Friday, May 25, 2012

Sulfur is an essential mineral which the body uses to make many of its amino acids and proteins, according to a study done at the Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southhampton in the UK, in 2006.[1] The researchers of the study, titled The Effects of Sulfur Amino Acid Intake on Immune Function in Humans, revealed sulfur’s important role in keeping our immune system healthy and efficient. The study shows that sulfur in the form of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) may provide natural and effective support in alleviating inflammation throughout the body.

The best study on sulfur is perhaps the ongoing Live Blood Cellular Matrix Study (12 years at the time of writing this), which is not a scientific study by any means, but it consists of collecting anecdotal evidence from those who have benefited from using sulfur for a large number of different conditions.[2] In my opinion, when properly controlled as it is being done in this study, valuable real-life information can be gained that otherwise may remain concealed in “properly” conducted scientifically studies.

In essence, sulfur makes it possible for proteins and other nutrients and gases to pass across the membranes into the cells. Without it, cell membranes become leathery and less permeable, thereby forcing cells to become anaerobic and accumulate acid metabolic wastes. This can cause them to either turn cancerous, or to degenerate and die. Since sulfur cannot be stored in the body, not being amply supplied with it each day through food and drinking water causes us to die each day a little more through cell degeneration (called disease and aging).

Sulfur is naturally found in hard water. The populations in some Mediterranean countries where the water is partially hard tend to have a low incidence in heart disease and dementia. Iceland, which is particularly blessed with sulfur-rich water (Sulphur Springs), is ranked as the healthiest country in the world, according to a Forbes report (followed by Finland and Sweden).

Water softening, as well as fluoridation and chlorination of water strip the water of all its sulfur. This is one of the reasons sulfur deficiency is more pronounced in larger cities or communities supplied with treated, municipal water. Before the era of chemical fertilizers, our food was grown through the applications of sulfur-rich manures to the soil. The extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, on the other hand, has stripped our foods of almost all sulfur. Whatever sulfur is left in these foods, is removed through food processing, heating, and preservation methods. After chemical fertilizers were mandated in the US in 1954 the incidence of cancer and other major degenerative illnesses increased by an astounding 4000 percent.

Finland was one of the first countries in the world to recognize the fundamental dangers of modern farming methods and food production. In 1985, alarmed by the same obscene increase in degenerative disease at similar levels to those found in the US, Finland altogether banned the use of chemical fertilizers. This resulted in their disease rates to drop to one tenth of their 1985 rates. Today, Finland does not only boast one of the healthiest populations in the world, they are also the leading supplier of organically grown foods in Europe.

In the body, sulfur is responsible for allowing cells to use oxygen effectively and for undergoing repair, if damaged. In fact, without enough sulfur in the body, healing cannot take place. Unless you eat mostly organically grown foods and drink natural, untreated water, you may not be able to keep the body at its optimal level of health and vitality.

Aging has very little to do with one’s age. Aging is rather a nutrient-deficiency syndrome that increasingly prevents the nourishment of the body’s organs and systems and forces the cells to hold on to their own waste products. Sulfur is that one single mineral that regulates cellular nourishment and waste removal. To do this successfully, the body requires about 750mg of sulfur each day. The sulfur can draw toxins out of the cells, even fat cells and brain cells. It increases circulation, enzyme activity, strengthens the immune system, reduces recovery time after injury, reduces muscle pain and soreness, promotes healthy growth of hair and nails, helps with cancer, osteoporosis, depression, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. I cannot think of any inflammatory illness where sulfur-deficiency does not also play a key role. Almost all diseases are due to inflammation.

Toxins in our environment, food additives, pesticides and herbicides sprayed on foods and into the air, Chemtrail toxins (such as aluminum oxides and barium), vaccines, radiation toxins created by cell phones and wireless devices, etc., all deplete sulfur in the body. Remember, it takes a lot of sulfur to remove just the internally generated waste products each day. There is not much sulfur left to deal with the unnaturally supplied toxins, which can then easily overtax the liver, kidneys, heart and brain.

Cleaning out the liver and gallbladder, colon, and kidneys, combined with eating mostly organically grown foods and natural untreated water, are among the basic steps to restore the body health and slow the aging process.

Vegetarian foods that are particularly rich in sulfur include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, watercress, and radish. If you suffer from an illness, though, and require extra sulfur to support the healing and repair of damaged cells in your body, you may consider eating extra sulfur as part for your daily diet.

If you are taking any medication, make sure to leave at least 30 minutes between taking your medication and taking sulfur. The chemicals would quickly deplete the sulfur and thus render it ineffective.

Note: The sulfur typically sold in the form of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) supplements is usually ineffective. Most MSM products sold commercially contain less than 35 percent sulfur, ands some MSM products contain no sulfur at all. This is largely due to the crushing of the methylsulfonylmethane crystals into powder and adding anti-cake agents. Additives of packaging may also block or neutralize the bio availability of the sulfur contained in the MSM. I recommend that you only use organic sulfur in its crystal form and lignin (wood) based. (See Product Details.)

Possible cleansing reactions:

Because Sulfur is an effective cleanser it may initially lead to mild cleansing reactions such as intestinal gas. Do not become discouraged if it doesn’t make you feel good right away. It can easily take 3-4 weeks before the body’s cell membranes become unclogged and proper cell oxygenation kicks in. The less toxic the body is the faster the results will become apparent. In any case, the sulfur is equally effective for everyone because it is an essential food, not a medicine (although natural food acts like medicine). Without sulfur, we could not live even for one minute.

If taking the sulfur at the recommend dosage makes you feel uncomfortable at first, use a smaller dosage and slowly work up to a teaspoon (5g) twice a day. Those with a severe degenerative disease may take as much as 1 tablespoon (15g) twice daily but should also start at no more than 1 teaspoon twice a day.

It can take up to 3-4 months for damaged or weak cells to reach the end of their natural cycle and for new, healthy, properly oxygenated cells to replace them. In addition, a lifetime of absorbing toxins buried under layers of fat and insulating mucopolysaccharides (mucous) cannot be undone over night.So be patient. It is far better to know something as pure and cleansing as sulfur is causing a little temporary discomfort than not to notice the body slowly suffocating in a pool of toxins.

A Simple Taste Test:

When eaten straight, organic sulfur has a bitter taste to it, which is much more noticeable when the body is quite toxic. The less toxins there are in the body, the less bitter the sulfur tastes. So if it tastes very bitter to you, you can be certain you are quite deficient in it.

To make it easier on your taste buds, you can put the sulfur in your mouth and immediately swig a little lime or lemon juice and its flakes will melt in your mouth as you swallow. Then drink an 8-ounce (240ml) glass of non chlorinated, non fluoridated water (these chemicals will nullify the benefits of the ingested sulfur). Alternately, dissolve it in a glass of warm water with some lime or lemon juice added, and perhaps a little raw honey.

Organic sulfur has no known toxicity. Even if you took too much of it, it would simply be excreted by the body.

When choosing a product there is a simple test that you can do to determine its effectiveness. Dissolve some of the crystals in a little bit of hot water and let it stand until it evaporates. Once evaporated, the crystals will be larger than they were when you started the process. If not, the product is worthless. Most commercial MSM products, especially those in powder form fail this test.